DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research is looking for a Student Assistant

Are you interested in international affairs and curious about the political, economic, and social developments in Ukraine? Would you like to gain experience supporting research at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)? If so, you might be our new student assistant at the DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research.

About DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research

The DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research is part of the Global Development and Green Transitions research unit at DIIS. The unit examines how global challenges and political transformations affect societies, institutions, and people's everyday lives. Its research covers topics such as development cooperation, geopolitics, inequality, climate change, and energy security.

Within this broader research environment, the DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research examines Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term development, focusing on the political, economic, and security challenges facing the country.

Our research covers topics such as the governance and financing of reconstruction, economic resilience, energy security, corruption, democratic development, and the role of civil society. We also examine international sanctions against Russia and their implications for Ukraine and the wider region.

How can Ukraine rebuild while the war continues? What challenges arise in financing and governing reconstruction? How can Ukraine strengthen its democratic institutions, economic resilience, and energy security?

Through research and collaboration with Ukrainian and international partners, the centre aims to contribute to academic and policy debates on Ukraine’s future and to strengthen research cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine.

Candidate Profile

You are currently enrolled in a higher education programme (e.g., political science, international relations, development studies, economics, history, sociology, anthropology, or area studies).

You have documented experience working with Ukraine and Eastern Europe, international politics, and issues related to reconstruction, development, and governance.

You have strong research and organizational skills, work independently and systematically, and are proactive and flexible in taking on different responsibilities.

Knowledge of the Ukrainian language is a significant advantage , particularly for assisting with research involving Ukrainian-language sources and collaboration with Ukrainian partners, but it is not a requirement.

Your tasks will include assisting the centre’s researchers with activities such as literature searches, collecting and organizing research materials, planning and organizing seminars and conferences, proofreading, transcription, updating the centre’s website, supporting the team’s social media (SoMe) activities and online presence as required, and other research-related tasks.

The student assistant position also involves a range of practical and administrative tasks, such as providing operational assistance with conferences, setting up and clearing away after DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research meetings and lunches, photocopying, supporting DIIS’s reception desk, and similar duties.

Salary and Employment Conditions

Working hours average 15 hours per week and can be arranged flexibly in agreement with your manager.

Employment is governed by the collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Federation of Public Employees’ Organisations (HK-Stat).

You must be an active student enrolled in a higher education programme throughout your employment.

Start date: 2 January 2026 or soon after

Application

Your motivated application (cover letter), CV, and documentation confirming your enrolment in a relevant educational programme must be received 30 November 2026 at 12:00 noon. Please note that we only accept applications sent via DIIS’s electronic recruitment system at the bottom of the job advertisement.

Further Information

DIIS Centre for Ukraine Research Coordinator: Izabela Surwillo: [email protected]

We encourage all interested candidates to apply, regardless of gender, age, religion, disability, or ethnic background.

DIIS is an independent public research institution for international studies. We conduct and communicate multidisciplinary research on globalisation, security, development and foreign policy and within these areas we aim to be agenda-setting in research, policy and public debate.

DIIS participates in academic networks and publish in high-ranking academic journals, always striving to excel in academic scholarship.

We continuously assess Denmark's foreign and political situation and inform the Danish media, politicians and the public about our work